The Opelousas courier., 1887-12-17
SCIENTIFIC SCRAPS

Anumbing action, similar to that of
cocaine, has been found to result from
the external application to the body of
the well-known intoxicating drink of
the South Sea islanders called kava.
Applying certain measurements to a
scarcely visible film of silver, Herr
Wiener arrives at the conclusion that no
less than 125, 600, 900 molecules of silver
must be laid in a line to measure an
inch.
According to DR.. Lucien Howe, who
read a paper on the increase of blind
ness in the United States at the last
meeting of the American Association for
the Advancement of Science, the popu-
lation of this country increased 80 per
cent. from 1870 to 1880, and blindness
increased during the same period 40 per
cent, until now WI have with US 30, 900
blind. Contagion and immigration are
set down as among the chief causes.
Astronomers have long been at a loss
to account for the occasional presence of
a Small object near the planet Venus,
which some supposed to be a satellite,
though the observations were consistent
with no possible orbit. The mystery
has now been cleared up by M. stroo-
bant, who, in a paper communicated to
the Belgian Royal Academy, shows that
in a large number of instances the OBJ
ject Observed was a star and not a
satellite. ~
1t is generally supposed that pneu-
monia is due to the accidental penetra-
ton of specific microbes into the system,
but the observations of M. Jaccoud, a
French student of the subject, show that
the disease really results from the de-
velopment, under favorable conditions,
of microbic germs permanently present
in the system. A chief condition of such
development il a sudden chill, which ex-
plains the frequent coincidence of lung
affections with abrupt changes of tenn
perature.
"Lectover" is the name of a new and
murderous munition of war in Russia.
1t was discovered by a Russian engineer,
and is as strong as pyroxyline and ten
times cheaper than saltpetre powder. It
possesses great superiority over all ex-
p~loslves of the dynamite class by the
fact that when fred its force does not
strike downward, but entirely forward.
It can be used, it is said, for all pur-
poses to which ordinary g%unpowder is
is now applied, without any damage to
the weapon discharged. The minister
of war is having a special factory built
for its manufacture. The composition
is a secret.
3. Mourlot, Paris, obtains from es-
sence of birch bark, by rectiication, an
essential oil, which possesses among
other properties that OF beias atal to
tsinsect life" and m electrically insu-
lating tarry substance. These two pro-
ducts are SO treated and c9mbined with
other substances as to produce an anti.
oxidizing material and an insulating
substance capable of the same applica-
tions as ebonite. Among the other in
gradients employed, in addition to the
products from the essence of birch bark,
are caoutchouc, sulphur, chalk, tale,
litharge, anthony sulphide, kaolin, zine
white and red ochre.
As a possible theory of the origin o
the Mississippi, Messrs. Robert Bates
and John Al. Reyes suggest that its ero-
sion was accomplished by means of /
mighty cataract which began far dowr
the river neal its original mouth, an6
by gradual retrocession dug out tn.
~valley-like gorge which is SO marked
feature in the upper part Of its course
and left the high bluff walls On either
hand. This view makes st. Anthony
Falls the ever decreasing and recedine
remnants of the once most stupendou'
cataract the world ever saw, having /
perpendicular descent of perhaps 50t
feet. Tho time required to cut out tn,
entire channel is placed at 400, 600 years